Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a cutting-edge treatment for cancer that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, which directly target cancer cells, immunotherapy aims to enhance or restore the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer.
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that harnesses the body’s immune system to fight diseases, particularly cancer. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, which target the tumor directly, immunotherapy aims to enhance the immune response, enabling the body to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

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Here’s an overview:

Types of Immunotherapy

1. Monoclonal Antibodies:
   • Laboratory-made molecules that can bind to specific targets on cancer cells. They can mark cancer cells for destruction or block growth signals.
   • Examples include trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast cancer and rituximab (Rituxan) for certain types of lymphoma.
2. Checkpoint Inhibitors:
   • These drugs block proteins that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells. By inhibiting these checkpoints, the immune response is enhanced.
   • Examples include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo).
3. Cancer Vaccines:
   • Vaccines designed to elicit an immune response against cancer-specific antigens. They can be used to treat existing cancers or prevent cancer recurrence.
   • Examples include sipuleucel-T (Provenge) for prostate cancer.
4. Cytokine Therapy:
   • Involves the use of cytokines, which are proteins that facilitate communication between immune cells. They can enhance the immune response.
   • Examples include interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferons.
5. CAR T-Cell Therapy:
   • A form of personalized medicine where a patient’s T cells are modified in the lab to better attack cancer cells. These modified cells are then infused back into the patient.
   • Used primarily for certain blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

Mechanism of Action

• Immunotherapy works by activating the immune system, enabling it to better recognize and target cancer cells. It may also create a “memory” in the immune system, helping it to identify and attack any returning cancer cells in the future.

Benefits

• Targeted Action: Immunotherapy can be more selective than traditional therapies, often resulting in fewer side effects.
• Durability: Some patients experience long-lasting responses, even after treatment has ended.
• Broader Applications: Immunotherapy is being researched for various types of cancer and has shown promise in tumors that were previously difficult to treat.

Side Effects

While immunotherapy can be effective, it can also lead to side effects, primarily related to immune activation:

• Flu-like Symptoms: Fever, chills, fatigue, and body aches.
• Autoimmune Reactions: The immune system may attack healthy tissues, leading to inflammation in organs (e.g., colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis).
• Skin Reactions: Rash or itching at the injection site or elsewhere.

Follow-Up Care

Monitoring during and after treatment is crucial to manage any side effects and assess treatment effectiveness.